Safe Passage, founded in 1977, was the first shelter for abused women and children in Hampshire County and one of the first in Massachusetts. (NELCWIT, Cat’02 in Greenfield, serves Franklin County) Its services are free, confidential, accessible, reliable, and multilingual (mainly English and Spanish). Its shelter houses up to six families at once, including a designated room for people with disabilities, almost always occupied because there are only a few statewide. SP reaches out to Latinas and other immigrant women, including those whose legal status may depend on the husband who is harming them; it offers legal representation on other civil issues as well. Recently SP has expanded its services to child victims or witnesses of domestic violence. All its programs are designed to empower those served, to take control of their own lives. Now, however, these programs are endangered because the major funding source, the MA Department of Social Services, has shifted focus from residential to community-based approaches. To compensate, Safe Passage has to raise $165,000 from philanthropic donations for 2007, and over $300,000 for 2008. This requires a special outreach to Hampshire County, but broader support is urgently needed, including new long-term donors. Won’t you please consider joining them?